NFL

Patriots' offense struggling behind subpar Brady

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)

The New England Patriots have played all season without their
top two tight ends and wide receivers from last season's
high-scoring team.

And, in a way, without the quarterback who threw them the
ball.

Yes, that's still Tom Brady taking the snaps. But his play
hardly resembles the way he performed last year when he led the
best offense in the NFL.

''We've got to start making the plays that NFL players make,''
Brady said Monday during his weekly appearance on WEEI radio. ''If
we don't, we're going to continue to struggle and not score points
and put too much pressure on our defense.''

The NFL's two-time MVP had his worst game in several seasons in
Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Brady's passer rating of 52.2 was his lowest in 59 games and his
completion rate of 47.4 was his lowest in 117 games.

For the season, his rating and completion percentage are lower
than they were at the end of any season since he became a starter
in 2001. And he's on pace for his fewest touchdown passes and most
sacks since 2002.

Bad numbers, to be sure, but the Patriots still lead the AFC
East with a 4-1 record going into Sunday's game against the
unbeaten New Orleans Saints.

And it's not as if Brady is surrounded by an all-star cast.

Tight ends Rob Gronkowski, recovering from forearm and back
surgery, and Aaron Hernandez, who was cut and is in jail and has
been charged with first-degree murder, combined for 106 catches
last year. Without them, the Patriots' tight ends have five
catches.

Their top two running backs are banged up with Shane Vereen out
for at least four more games with a broken wrist and Stevan Ridley
missing the Bengals game with a knee injury.

So the Patriots have tried to get by with a bunch of newcomers -
rookie receivers Kenbrell Thompkins, Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce
and veterans Matt Mulligan at tight end and LeGarrette Blount at
running back.

But coach Bill Belichick dismissed the idea that it would be
unrealistic to expect consistency early in the season from
first-year Patriots.

''Everybody that's out there has been out there, played a lot of
football for us this year,'' he said. ''We just didn't overall
offensively perform to the level that we did last week or that
we're capable of doing. I think everybody is accountable for that,
the coaching staff, the players.

''We put ourselves in too many long-yardage situations. We
couldn't convert in the red area and had some consistency running
the ball but not nearly enough in the passing game, and not in any
critical situations.''

The Patriots led the NFL last season with 34.8 points and 427.9
yards per game. This season they were 23rd with 19.0 points and
19th with 358.6 yards after Sunday's games.

Cincinnati's pass rush sacked Brady four times. The Bengals also
sacked Aaron Rodgers four times this season.

But Brady's other numbers were worse than the other four
quarterbacks Cincinnati faced this season - Jay Cutler of Chicago,
Ben Roethslisberger of Pittsburgh, Rodgers of Green Bay and Brady's
former backup Brian Hoyer of Cleveland.

''They have a good rush,'' Brady said. ''They rush you into
quick throws and things you don't want to make. That's why they are
a good defense, because they rush, cover and have good athletic
linebackers.''

The Patriots wasted an excellent chance to cut the lead to 13-10
midway through the fourth quarter.

With a first-and-10 at the Bengals 17-yard line, Danny Amendola
caught a pass thrown behind him then fell near the goal line as he
tried to run. He nearly rolled into the end zone, but safety Chris
Crocker touched him at the 1.

''I knew I was close,'' said Amendola, who missed the previous
three games with a groin injury.

On second down, Blount ran for no gain. On third down, right
tackle Nate Solder lined up at tight end, a position he played in
2007 at Colorado, but Brady overthrew him in the end zone.

''It's been a long time since I've been a tight end,'' Solder
said with a laugh. ''I think I'm more of a tackle now.''

On third down, Brady's pass to Julian Edelman in the end zone
was incomplete. So the Patriots settled for a field goal.

''We're not putting up 50 points per game,'' Brady said. ''When
we do get that chance to put seven on the board we have to be able
to do it.''

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